Football: Arsenal Boss Hopeful Over Arshavin Pursuit

LONDON : Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted Thursday he was “very hopeful” the club would sign Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin before the end of the January transfer window.

The Premier League side have already seen Arshavin’s club Zenit St Petersburg reject an offer of 10 million pounds for the 27-year-old.

Wenger, who will be without injured captain Cesc Fabregas until April, said: “We are not close to signing anybody, but there again, we are in negotiations, yes – but we want to respect our principles.

“I am very hopeful. There is time left in the transfer window because we have only crossed halfway.

“But if it does not happen, it does not happen. There again, we want to continue to improve and focus and what we can continue to improve here with the players we have.

“I believe we have a strong team and we want to do the maximum with the team we have.”

Wenger added: “Do not forget that we have (Tomas) Rosicky, Fabregas, (Theo) Walcott, who are all creative and offensive players, they will come back at some stage. That is like being on a transfer market for us.

“Eduardo has also recovered very well and his coming back will be like a new signing as well. He will be back in two to three weeks.”